Gates Says ‘Somebody’ in Pakistan Knew about Bin Laden

[Octafish]

Source: The New York Times

By ELISABETH BUMILLER
Published: May 18, 2011

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said on Wednesday that while he surmised that “somebody” inside Pakistan was aware that Osama bin Laden was hiding in a compound in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad, there was no evidence so far that anyone in the country’s senior leadership was in on the secret.

“My supposition is, somebody knew,” Mr. Gates said at a Pentagon news conference with Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Beyond that, he said, the Obama administration, which has repeatedly said that Bin Laden seemed to have a “support network” in hiding, had little information.

“We don’t know whether it was retired people, whether it was low level — pure supposition on our part,” Mr. Gates said. “It’s hard to go to them with an accusation when we have no proof that anybody knew.”

Mr. Gates said that his supposition, shared by many other Obama administration officials, did not extend to Pakistan’s top political and military officials. “I have seen no evidence at all that the senior leadership knew,” Mr. Gates said. “In fact, I’ve seen some evidence to the contrary.”


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/world/asia/19pentagon.html

---

BFEE kept the doors open at BCCI for AQ Khan and all the business.

[MisterP]

1. I thought the Beltway said we can't afford conspiracy theories like this...

[Octafish]

11. They're very concerned and have applied some of the berst minds on it.

Speaking of Cass Sunstein: Obama confidant's spine-chilling proposal

[99th_Monkey]

2. If there was "no proof" in that treasure trove of intel they hauled away from OBL"s lair,

that would seem odd to me, as it's a big stretch to believe no Pakistani authorities were aware. :shrug:

[Octafish]

12. A Quick Search did turn up porn.

Wonder is Seal Team 6 found any mention of James R Bath?

[Yon_Yonson]

3. .... and what did the Bush Administration know? Mums the word!

[Octafish]

13. Smirko started avoiding bin Laden in summer of 2001.

Remember the Genoa G8 summit?

[Liberal Veteran]

4. Um. Duh.

Guess that's why we pay him the big bucks.

[Egnever]

5. Unrec for a BS headline

Not the posters fault but the headline is a lie.

[AtheistCrusader]

7. Factually correct either way.

"Somebody" includes Bin Laden. Pretty sure he knew where he was.

[Egnever]

17. Sorry but no

There's a world of difference between

Gates Says ‘Somebody’ in Pakistan Knew

and

"My supposition is, somebody knew"

One is a statement of fact the other is a supposition. Big difference.

[AtheistCrusader]

20. From a journalism standpoint, absolutely I agree.

I was just making a joke about 'someone' in pakistan knowing, given that the 'someone' could include the actual subject individual, to say nothing of the other people in the compound.
Of course, the implication is the Pakistani Government, but as you say, Gates didn't say what the headline stated.

[Egnever]

22. O!

:hi:

[boppers]

8. You're saying the (now deceased) courier didn't know?

His wives? Children?

"somebody" is pretty vague.

[Egnever]

18. No I am saying the headline is factualy incorect

"My supposition is, somebody knew" is not the same as "Gates says somebody knew"

One implies a guess the other implies direct knowledge.

Sorry I have a pet peeve with lying headlines.

[boppers]

19. Ah, gotcha. eom

[Octafish]

10. It refers to what Gates said about people in Pakistan.

The article also brings up Gates' contention that the people in the know weren't "at the top."

Gates knows a lot about those at the top, he's made a career out of giving them what they want.

[Egnever]

16. But gates didnt say that

he said he would suppose that someone knew. The article claims gates said he knows someone knew. Big difference there. In a day and age where most dont look past the headline that leave people walking away thinking theres proof someone knew.

Again not the OP's fault its the headline but its bullshit just the same.

[JDPriestly]

6. I agree with Gates. Someone in Pakistan knew.

[BadtotheboneBob]

9. Ya think?

Nuf said...

[IDemo]

14. How does one gain evidence that "nobody knew"?

How do you prove a negative like that? Because nothing was done?

[Zorra]

15. I'd bet heavily on that. nt

[and-justice-for-all]

21. I am quite sure that the last occupants of the WH

knew as well, but it was to their benefit to not do a fucking thing about it.

[Incitatus]

23. It looks like Bin Laden was expecting to be tipped off before a raid

But since the US did not notify anyone in Pakistan before the raid, that didn't happen.

[cosmicone]

24. Precisely .....

For bin Laden to live there for 5 years, he must have had assurances that he would be notified from the highest levels in Pakistani military/ISI/ government. He was not stupid to set up a residence there without such assurances.

[cosmicone]

25. One of many interviews to come to help Pakistan save face ...

sad that we keep doing this repeatedly and there are never any consequences for Pakistan's malfeasance and perpetual bad behavior.